Our food system is changing. Innovation and necessity are driving an evolution of how we produce food, in both new and traditional industries.
Australia is well-placed to build on our agricultural excellence to leverage global demand for more protein, functional foods and innovative consumer products. Through the application of biotechnologies like cell cultivation, precision fermentation, plant molecular farming and synthetic biology, Australia has the potential to capitalise on a multi-billion dollar opportunity and become a global biomanufacturing leader.
Whether we can realise this opportunity will depend on the ability to grow the sector in Australia through a combination of: building familiarity and trust in the technologies, growing public and private investment, and the right policy environment.
Made & Grown will showcase these technologies to support legislators, policymakers and regulators to understand the technologies, applications and products that are changing how we produce food and how they could shape a resilient food system.
The Made & Grown program is being designed by an Advisory Committee in conjunction with the cellular agriculture sector, to ensure high calibre, relevant and contemporary content.
The program is being finalised, but will involve a range of engaging presentations, deep fireside discussions, curated panels (and maybe a tasting or two!). The main sessions are:
THE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY OF MADE & GROWN
We'll introduce you to the technologies underpinning the future of the agrifood system, including precision fermentation, cell cultivation, molecular farming and synthetic biology. You'll get a complete picture of the science, applications and progress towards commercialisation both globally and here in Australia.
GROWN: AGRICULTURE IN THE BIOECONOMY
Biotechnology is already transforming traditional agricultural crops. In this session, we'll explore current innovations in crop biotechnology - in food, climate resilience and more - while keeping one eye to the future as new technologies emerge. You'll hear how these technologies are being commercialised and the impact these production methods could have on regional economic growth.
MADE: INNOVATIONS IN FOOD BIOMANUFACTURING
Cellular agriculture companies are already integrating across the food system to create new products or improve existing ones. We'll dive deep and look at how Australian companies are reducing production costs, and increasing yield through innovations in advanced biomanufacturing and process design. This session will also showcase the depth and width of the cellular agriculture supply chain as specialist B2B providers start to emerge to further improve performance.
MADE & GROWN - OUR OPPORTUNITY?
This session will explore the policy, research and financial settings required to realise Australia's regional advantage and build sovereign capability in food biomanufacturing and the bioeconomy.
Confirmed speakers from the following organisations, more speakers to be announced soon